Big Mary Country: An Orbit Vacation Postcard from La Tierra de María, México

dramatic installation of Mary with heart and daggers in Catholic basilica
Holy Mother of Jesus! Big Catholic, Ciudad de México-style

I know, I know … I know. Wrong holiday, dude! Christmas was three months ago—this one’s supposed to be about Jesus!

Believe me: in just a ten-day survey, there were Jesuses, crucifixes, arrows, death beds, and blood aplenty. Dyed eggs and bunnies? Notsomuch. If your author had properly thought ahead, maybe he’d have been able to put together a legit Easter sud de la frontera post, but this Easter—at least, here at The Orbit—you’re stuck with Mary.

statue of Mary with tears
Crying time again. Crystalized teardrops Mary, San Miguel de Allende

But with Mary—Mary!—we can’t keep away! Pittsburgh loves Mary, but compared to central Mexico, she may as well be Roger Staubach. Mary is ev-ery-where: Painted on the stucco walls of hillside homes and carved into public statuary. She’s mass-replicated on keychains and tchotchkes, trucker caps and shot glasses. And the churches—holy heck! The churches make our over-the-top look under-the-radar. Mary on high with cherubs and well-wishers; Mary chilling in her clamshell crib, decked-out in a crown-like halo and office-to-the-club goldleaf onepiece.

It’s Easter—who’s got time for this blathering when we’ve got teeth to rot and guilt to lay down? Have a nice Sunday, whether you observe the holiday or not. Remember: it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.

mural of Virgin Mary of Guadalupe painted on exterior house wall
Mary de la escaleras, Guanajuato
statue of Mary inside Catholic church
Flying cherubs Mary, Guanajuato
mural of Virgin Mary of Guadalupe painted on exterior house wall
Alley mural Mary, Guanajuato
mural of Virgin Mary of Guadalupe painted on exterior house wall
Big Mary, little Mary, San Miguel de Allende
religious statuettes for sale
Only 120 pesos (about $7.25) for a good-sized Mary, Mexico City
carved statue of Mary in Catholic church
A little-bit-nutty Mary, Tepotzotlán
statue of Mary inside Catholic church
Melodrama Mary, Tepotzotlán
religious statuettes for sale
Mary and friends, Mexico City
statue of Mary inside Catholic church
Hello halo! San Miguel de Allende
shrine to Virgin Mary of Guadalupe on bright-colored wall
Flowers and garlands Mary, San Miguel de Allende
colorful Mary-shaped bottles of holy water for sale
Agua para bendecir (holy water) Mary, Mexico City
protected grotto for Mary in dry hillside
Hillside grotto Mary, Guanajuato

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